UFC on FOX: Henderson vs Melendez on 20 April 2013

The latest play-by-play fight updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that, however, around 3:30 p.m. ET with the “Prelims” under card bouts on Facebook and FX Channel.so stay here check previews results online updates full coverage.The UFC returns to New york, & to FOX TV with UFC On FOX 7, Henderson Vs Melendez set to happen this Saturday. For years fans debated who had the better lightweight division & wanted the respective champions to face off, & this is what will happen when UFC Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson takes on Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez by & giant event. In the co-main event, Daniel Cormier & Frank Mir will scrap in a heavyweight division fight that promises to be a wrestling vs jiu-jitsu showcase.The 29-year-old Henderson is 6-0 in the UFC, including consecutive title defenses over Nate Diaz & Frankie Edgar. He’ll look to cement his status as the world best 155-pounder when they meets Melendez, a San Francisco resident riding a seven-fight winning streak.

UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson will defend his title in a long-awaited showdown with Gilbert Melendez, the last man to hold the Strikeforce lightweight title, on Saturday, April twenty when the Final Fighting Championship brings the Octagon back to HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.Benson Henderson desires to beat Gilbert Melendez to show one time & for all that he the best lightweight in the world, UFC President Dana White said. Gilbert was a champion in Strikeforce & he been on an amazing tear. Benson desires this fight badly & Im excited that it headlining such a stacked card.The UFC will be returning to the elderly Strikeforce stomping grounds, the HP Pavilion in San Jose, when they present UFC on Fox 7 on April 20th. & unsurprisingly, a few Strikeforce guys have already been booked for the event. The main event will be a champion vs. champion bout with UFC lightweight titleholder Ben Henderson putting his belt on the line against Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez. The co-main event will see the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner Daniel Cormier making his UFC debut against former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir.The remainder of the main card will be made up by solid bouts – recent lightweight title challenger Nate Diaz will face off with former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson, who will be making his first UFC appearance in over eight years. & Matt Brown will meet late replacement Jordan Mein.

Masvidal has not put over consecutive wins together since 2008.Drubbings of Billy Evangelista & K.J. Noons brought some hype with Jorge Masvidal (23-7) in to his Strikeforce championship showdown with Melendez; however, the passivity of “Gamebred” — possibly the result of a broken hand sustained prior to the bout — regrettably resulted in a lopsided (50-45) unanimous decision loss, which marked his third defeat in his earlier six fights. He got back on track with a choice over strongman Justin Wilcox & was slated to face Pat Healy on the promotion final card, but was sidelined with an injury training for the bout.The former King of the Cage (KoTC) champion & owner of 13 knockout wins will enjoy a three-inch height advantage.In a move that likely left Kevin Randleman solemnly shaking his head in sympathy, Tim Means (18-3-1) suffered his first career knockout loss to the sauna in which he was cutting weight before his fight with Abel Trujillo. & because state athletic commission don’t sanction Man vs. Sauna scraps, “Dirty Bird” got to maintain his 11-fight unbeaten streak, including dominant performances in the Octagon.

Masvidal has excellent striking skills & a sufficiently solid wrestling game to force most fighters to trade with him, but he is also immensely frustrating to watch. To put it bluntly, he’s zero killer instinct — he is content to basically potshot without committing to anything large. His fights are agonizing until (& unless) he lands something powerful & he makes no hard work to make his own openings.That is not going to cut it against Means.There a reason Masvidal has no finishes in the last years despite how well he can strike. Means is going to chew him up at range & Masvidal not going to commit to impose his own skills.Not only is Means taller & lovely at fighting tall, his Muay Thai is absolutely vicious, making close-quarters engagement equally disagreeable. He got great power, but even if Masvidal can withstand the onslaught, the aforementioned passivity of “Gamebred” is going to get him beat up.

Prediction: Means via unanimous decision

135 lbs.: T.J. Dillashaw vs. Hugo Viana

Likely endearing himself to the UFC brass for life, T.J. Dillashaw (7-1) will take his second short-notice fight in small over month, replacing the injured Francisco Rivera after knocking out Issei Tamura back in March. The Final Fighter (TUF) 14 runner up — a member of Team Alpha Male — was slated to face Mike Easton in Oct. 2012 before being injured himself, and is perhaps basically making up for lost time. of Dillashaw’s wins have come inside the distance.Six straight decision wins to start your MMA career usually doesnt bode well for your future bludgeoning prospects, but it seems Hugo Viana (7-0) was waiting for the right moment, annihilating Reuben Duran in his Bantamweight debut. “Wolverine” had historicallyin the past made waves on TUF: “Brazil,” knocking out Mauricio Rua understudy Alexandre Ramos with vicious elbows and losing a close decision to eventual winner Rony Jason despite the size disadvantage.

Im going to start disliking Dillashaw if he keeps on being a company man and beating up my favourite fighters on short notice. The scrapped bout with Rivera would have been an fabulous, winnable slugfest for “Wolverine,” but I dont see him having anywhere near as much success against Dillashaw.Interestingly, Viana’s combat sports background is Tae Kwon Do, in which he’s a black belt.Hugo is fast, strong and hits damn hard, none of which will help him one time he been planted on his rear.Hugo on his feet and in top position is beastly. But, Dillashaw isnt going to let him spend any extended time period in either position. Unless Viana can get those bombs of his landing early and often, Alpha Male choking prowess will be showcased one time again as Dillashaw drags him down, takes the back and squeezes out his fourth straight UFC victory.

Prediction: Dillashaw via first round submission

155 lbs.: Roger Bowling vs. Anthony Njokuani

“Relentless” has gone the distance two times in victory, knocking out seven.

Winning his first seven fights by stoppage, Roger Bowling (11-3) entered Strikeforce with some hype behind him, but enjoyed mixed success one time there, drawing even (3-3) with knockout losses to eternal rival Bobby Voelker. Most recently, a two-fight knockout streak was halted by eventual champion 170-pound Tarec Saffiedine, who defeated him by wide unanimous decision.Njokuani has not competed since, recovering from a broken hand suffered against dos Anjos.These past years have not been kind to Anthony Njokuani (15-7), who has won of his last eight bouts & gone 2-3 in the UFC. Recently, an underwhelming win over John Makdessi in April 2012 was followed by a sound thrashing at the hands of Rafael dos Anjos, who held his own both on the ground & on the feet against the vaunted striker.

Im not sure if Njokuani will ever have the take down defense to crack the Top 15, but there’s only a few fighters in the division he cant handle on the feet. Bowling is no exception. Njokuani has a four-inch height advantage & isnt making his first weight cut. What is more, Im not satisfied Bowling has the wrestling ability that Danny Castillo & dos Anjos used to take “Njo” out of his game.Njokuani hasnt lost straight fights since 2010, meaning he due for another win. If Bowling comes out swinging, Njokuani ought to take over around the midpoint as the weight cut takes its toll. & if he fights conservatively, thatll make it simpler for Njokuani to pick him apart.Either way, a late stoppage in the Nigerian favor seems the likely result.

Prediction: Njokuani via second round technical knockout

185 lbs.: Clifford Starks vs. Yoel Romero

A sizeable underdog despite being unbeaten, Clifford Starks (8-1) gave Ed Herman all they could handle in his second UFC appearance, beating up the veteran for much of the first round with a steady stream of right hands before finally succumbing to his deadly ground game. Prior to that, they defeated GLORY competitor Dustin Jacoby in his Octagon debut, basically outgrappling the taller man for all rounds.Starks has been out of MMA action for over year for unknown reasons.Despite being in his 30s, Yoel Romero (4-1) was thought about among the top Light Heavyweight prospects going in to his Strikeforce debut. Not only did they win a silver medal in freestyle wrestling at the Olympics in 2000, they is the older brother of No. 1-ranked Cruiserweight boxer Yoan Pablo Hernandez.

Rafael Cavalcante, however, apparently didn’t look after his garish credentials, knocking out Romero in savage fashion in the second round of their clash.This will be his first bout since Sept. 2011 & his first at 185 pounds, which is pounds lighter than his wrestling weight at the Sydney, Australia, games.Year-long absence + UFC debut + additional twenty pounds to cut = I detest myself for making this pick, but Im leaning toward Romero. Hes a lot more expert than Starks that I cant see this lasting long for those to come in to play. Starks has a nice right hand & solid wrestling, while Romero has an Olympic pedigree & major power in his hands. As bad as the “Feijao” smackdown was, Cavalcante eats wrestlers for breakfast, as “King” Muhammed Lawal learned the hard way.There basically much in Romero favor for all my misgivings to sway my view. On the ground or on the feet, expect the Cuban bruiser to lay down the hurt in a rush.

Prediction: Romero via first round technical knockout.

Watch UFC on FOX live fight matches rounds results here from with live updates commentary broadcast.

Clifford Starks vs. Yoel Romero

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Roger Bowling vs. Anthony Njokuani

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

T.J. Dillashaw vs. Hugo Viana

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Jorge Masvidal vs. Tim Means

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Joseph Benavidez vs. Darren Uyenoyama

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Myles Jury vs. Ramsey Nijem

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Lorenz Larkin vs. Francis Carmont

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Chad Mendes vs. Darren Elkins

Round 1

Round 2
Round 3

Matt Brown vs. Jordan Mein

Round 1

Round 2
Round 3

Nate Diaz vs. Josh Thomson

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Frank Mir vs. Daniel Cormier

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Benson Henderson vs. Gilbert Melendez

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Watch UFC on FOX: Henderson vs Melendez live match fight round updates results highlights coverage full updates about every match here from.so stay connected for much more coverage and updates with play-by-play and live results of UFC on Fox 7, which is headlined by a lightweight title fight pitting champion Benson Henderson against challenger Gilbert Melendez.